Curling element for styling hair and fixing element for a curling element

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a curling element for styling hair and to a fixing element for a curling element. Hairstyling using the inventive curling elements is more flexible. The aim of the invention is also to provide a fixing element with which curling elements can be simply and reliably prevented from unrolling once they have been rolled up. To this end, the invention provides a curling element in accordance with claim no. 1, which provides that at least one ring-shaped notched section is made in the cylindrical base form. The bottom of the at least one notched section and the transitions between the ring-shaped notched section and the lateral surface of the cylinder are rounded off.

[0001] The present invention relates to a curling element for stylinghair and to a retaining element for a curling element.

[0002] The applicant is aware of curling elements having a cylindricalshape. The cylindrical lateral surface has provided thereon tips orpeaks for ensuring a better grip for the hair when the curling elementsare railed into the hair. After having been rolled into the hair, saidcurling elements can be retained by the measure that a rubber isstretched from the one end of the cylinder to the other end forretaining the curling element together with the rolled-up hair.

[0003] It is the object of the present invention to provide curlingelements with which hairstyles can be made more flexible. Furthermore, aretaining element is suggested for preventing the curling elements in asimple and reliable way from unrolling after said curling elements havebeen rolled up.

[0004] According to the present invention said object is achieved by acurling element according to claim 1, wherein at least one ring-shapednotch is formed in the cylindrical basic form, the bottom of the atleast one ring-shaped notch and the transitions of the ring-shaped notchinto the cylindrical lateral surface being rounded off.

[0005] Said rounding off has the advantage that there ar no edges in thecurling element where the hair may break when placed around the curlingelements while said elements are being rolled up.

[0006] Furthermore, such a rounding off can effect a smooth transition.The hair that is wound into the notch is afterwards curled with asmaller diameter. It is e.g. possible to wind a hair strand around thecurling element in that starting from the hairline the hair is firstplaced around that portion of the curling element that has no notch.Towards the end of the hair strand the hair is placed into the notch.This results in curls having a smaller diameter in the area of the hairtip.

[0007] Accordingly, a handling in the reverse order is also conceivable,i.e. the curls terminate downwards in a hair strand when, starting atthe hairline, the hair is placed into the notch.

[0008] When the curling element comprises several notches, it ispossible to change the diameter of the curls in a hair strand severaltimes by either putting or not putting the hair of the hair strand alongsaid hair strand into a notch.

[0009] In the curling element according to claim 2, the cylindricallateral surface is provided with a taper at its ends.

[0010] The curling element can thereby be used for rolling up the hairup to its end. Advantageously, the hair that is wound up at the end ofthe curling element can then be wound again with a smaller diameter.

[0011] In the design of the curling element according to claim 3, thetransitions of the at least one ring-shaped notch into the cylindricallateral surface are designed such that at least essentially an ellipsoidis obtained between two ring-shaped notches or between one ring-shapednotch and an end of the curling element.

[0012] This yields a particularly homogeneous transition in the curlingelement from portions having a larger diameter to portions having asmaller diameter. The transition of the curls within a hair strand canthen be made homogeneous.

[0013] The ellipsoid may e.g. be a sphere.

[0014] Said ellipsoid may be arranged between two notches and/or betweena notch and an end of the curling element.

[0015] In the design according to claim 4, the at least essentiallyresulting ellipsoid is flattened at two opposite sides.

[0016] Advantageously, a broader structure can thereby be produced whenthe hair is placed around the curling element.

[0017] In the design according to claim 5, the radius of the cylindricallateral surface tapers from the one end of the curling element to theother end.

[0018] For instance, several ellipsoids may be arranged on thecylindrical lateral surface. Said ellipsoids will then have radiidiffering from the one end to the other end such that said radii aredecreasing. This will also produce improved structures in the individualhair strands again.

[0019] In a further inventive curling element according to claim 6, theradius of the cylindrical lateral surface tapers towards one end.

[0020] Advantageously, it is thereby possible to vary the radius of thecurls within one hair strand in that the hair strand is woundaccordingly onto the curling element. Said taper may e.g. concern onlyhalf the curling element. Advantageously, curls of a constant diametercan be produced when the hair is wound onto the cylindrical member. Whenthe hair of the hair strand is wound onto the conical member, it ispossible to produce curls having a smaller diameter. Optionally, it isagain possible to choose the reduced diameter at the beginning of thehair strand on the hairline or at the end of the hair strand.

[0021] In the curling element according to claim 7, the radius of thecylindrical lateral surface tapers from one end to the other end.

[0022] Advantageously, this has the effect that the diameter of thecurls in a hair strand will change continuously when the hair strand iswound onto the curling element.

[0023] In the design according to claim 8, the cylindrical lateralsurface is flattened at two opposite sides.

[0024] The structure of the curls as such can thereby be varied again.

[0025] In a further inventive solution according to claim 9, a helicalnotch which is rounded off in its bottom portion and in the transitionto the cylindrical lateral surface is formed in the cylindrical basicform in a curling element.

[0026] It is thereby possible to vary the hair again within a hairstrand with respect to the diameter of the curls. The notch need herenot extend over the whole length of the curling element. Rather, it isalso possible that the notch will only begin on the curling element andalso end on the curling element.

[0027] With such a curling element, the diameter of the curls can beflexibly reduced within a hair strand in an easy way, namely in thecentral portion of the hair strand, in that at the beginning said hairstrand is placed around the cylindrical lateral surface and is theninserted into the notch in the course of its length, so that curls areformed there with a smaller diameter, and is then placed again aroundthe cylindrical lateral surface.

[0028] Said curling element, however, can also be used such that thediameter of the curls is only reduced at the beginning of the hairstrand or at the end in that only a corresponding part of the curlingelement is used while the hair is being rolled up.

[0029] In the design according to claim 10, the radius of thecylindrical lateral surface is tapered towards an end.

[0030] The diameter of the curls along the hair strand can thereby bevaried again in addition in “superimposed” fashion.

[0031] In the above-described embodiments, an at least essentiallycylindrical basic form exists even if said form becomes a truncated conebecause of a taper. Likewise, this is even the case with a flatteningexisting at two or more sides.

[0032] Claim 11 refers to a retaining element for a curling element.Said retaining element consists of a bendable wire which is mounted onthe curling element or passes through the curling element, the wireprojecting beyond the ends of the curling element by at least a fewcentimeters.

[0033] Advantageously, this easily prevents a curling element fromunrolling again after it has been rolled into a hair strand. This can beaccomplished in that the retaining element is bent when the curlingelement has been rolled up. The retaining element will then rest on thehead and prevent an unrolling of the curling element.

[0034] The wire which forms the retaining element can e.g. be surroundedby a plastic material to improve the wearing comfort and to preventpossible allergies to individual metals.

[0035] In the design according to claim 12, the retaining elementconsists of a copper wire.

[0036] Such a copper wire has already been produced for electricalinstallations and can thus be acquired at low costs. Wires having across-sectional area of 1.5 mm² and 2.5 mm², respectively, have turnedout to be expedient. Furthermore, copper has the advantage that the wireis often bendable without breaking.

[0037] According to claim 13 a retaining element is realized such thatsaid element has at least a member consisting of an elastic material,said member being adapted to be fastened to the retaining element andthe curling element, respectively, or being retained by the retainingelement and the curling element, respectively, that said member in therelaxed state is at least almost entirely within the curling element,the member being extensible by a tensile load from the retaining elementand the curling element, respectively, the member being adapted to befastened in the extended state with its front end to the retainingelement and the curling element, respectively, or being connectable toanother member of the retaining element.

[0038] The elastic material the at least one member consists of may e.g.be rubber. The curling element may have a bore in its longitudinaldirection. The member may be within the bore in the non-extended state.For mounting the curling element said member may be withdrawn andtensioned beyond the hair wound around the curling element and may befastened at the other side of the curling element to the curling elementitself or to the retaining element. The curling element can thereby beheld.

[0039] It has been found to be particularly advantageous that theretaining element is almost imperceptible in the rolled-up state of thecurling element. In the above-cited prior art the rubber band had to befastened at both sides of the curling element after the curling elementhad been rolled up. This is difficult because the curling element had tobe held at the same time to prevent unrolling. When the rubber band hadbeen fastened at one side previously, this turned out to be a nuisanceduring rolling up. Hence, in the solution of the invention the retainingelement is already fastened to the curling element in an advantageousmanner without the retaining element presenting an obstacle during therolling up of the curling element. This is due to the fact that in therelaxed state the retaining element is positioned within the curlingelement.

[0040] According to claim 14 the retaining element comprises a tubularmember having at least essentially a cylindrical shape, the at least onemember being fastened or held in the area of an end of the tubularmember, the latter being arranged in the curling element such that thetubular member extends at least essentially in the longitudinaldirection of the curling element.

[0041] From a manufacturing point of view this embodiment isparticularly simple to produce. The retaining element can first beproduced and cast into the curling element during the production processof the curling element. It is also ensured thereby that the bore in thecurling element is sufficiently large so that the member consisting ofthe elastic material finds enough accommodating space in the relaxedstate.

[0042] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawing.FIGS. 1 to 12 and 14 show different views of different curling elements.FIG. 13 shows a retaining element for a curling element. FIGS. 15 and 16show further embodiments of retaining elements, and FIG. 17 is onceagain a basic view showing a curling element.

[0043]FIG. 1 shows a curling element 101. Said element has asubstantially cylindrical basic form that is shown by the dash-dottedline 102 as an envelope of the curling element 101.

[0044] Ring-shaped notches 103, 104 are formed in said curling element101. Said ring-shaped notches 103 and 104 are each rounded off in thearea of their bottom and in the transition to the cylindrical lateralsurface.

[0045] As can also be seen, the cylindrical lateral surface 102 isrespectively tapered in the area of its ends 105, 106.

[0046] Due to the rounding off of the notches 103 and 104 and the tapersin the area of the ends 105 and 106 of the cylindrical lateral surface102, at least essentially an ellipsoid is formed between the two notches103 and 104 and between the notch 103 and the one end 106 and betweenthe notch 104 and the other end 105.

[0047] As can be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 1, said ellipsoids maye.g. be spherical.

[0048] It is possible to give said ellipsoids different lengths.Consequently, the distances between the two notches 103 and 104 andbetween the notches 103 and 104 and the respective end 106, 105 of thecylindrical lateral surface 102 need not be the same.

[0049]FIG. 2 is a top view showing the curling element according toFIG. 1. The inner circle 201 shows the radius of the taper at the upperend 106. The larger circle 202 shows the radius of the ellipsoid betweenthe upper end 106 and the notch 103.

[0050]FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a curling element 301. Theenveloping cylindrical lateral surface is here designated by 302. Incontrast to the curling element 101 according to FIG. 1, the curlingelement 301 has just one notch 303.

[0051] The curling element 301 is again tapered in the area of its ends306 and 305. FIG. 4 shows a further curling element 401. The envelope402 is here a cylindrical lateral surface the radius of which is heretapered along the cylindrical lateral surface. Hence, the envelope 402has a frustoconical shape.

[0052] There is again a ring-shaped notch 403, as well as the tapers atends 405 and 406. The transitions are again rounded.

[0053] The taper of the envelope 402 along the length of the cylinderhas the effect that the two ellipsoids created by the notch 403 and thetapers provided at ends 405 and 406 have different radii. This, in turn,makes it possible to vary the diameters of the curls accordingly when astrand of hair is being rolled up.

[0054]FIG. 5 shows the curling element 401 according to FIG. 4 in a topview. The circle 501 corresponds to the radius at the upper end 406. Thecircle 502 corresponds to the radius of the upper ellipsoid formed bythe taper at the upper end 406 and by the notch 403.

[0055] Line 503 is also shown to be substantially circular. Said linecorresponds to the circumferential line of the radius of the lowerellipsoid which is formed by the notch 403 and the taper at the lowerend 405. It can further be seen that line 503 is shown to differ from acircular shape such that the lower ellipsoid is flattened at twoopposite sides. The diameter of the curls can thereby be varied againwhile a hair strand is being wound up.

[0056] Likewise, it is possible to provide a corresponding flattening atthe upper ellipsoid. Said flattening may also be used in the otherembodiments shown.

[0057]FIG. 7 shows a curling element 701. Starting at its one end 705,said curling element 701 is first provided with a cylindrical shape.Starting from a specific circumferential line 707, the radius of saidcylinder tapers to the other end 706 of the curling element 701, so thata truncated cone is created, starting from said circumferential line707.

[0058] It is then possible to wind part of the hair strand onto thecylindrical part of the curling element 701 and part of the hair strandonto the frustoconical part of the curling element 701. The radius ofthe resulting curls varies during winding of the hair strand on thefrustoconical part of the curling element 701 in such a way that theradius of the curls is smaller in that part of the hair strand that wasrolled up closer to the end 706 of the curling element 701.

[0059]FIG. 6 is a top view showing the curling element 701 of FIG. 7.The circle 601 corresponds to the radius at the upper end 706 of thecurling element 701. The circle 602 corresponds to the radius on thecircumferential line 707 that corresponds to the radius at the lower end705.

[0060]FIG. 9 shows a further curling element 901. Said curling element801 is tapered, starting from its lower end 905 to the other end 906, sothat said curling element 901 has a frustoconical shape.

[0061]FIG. 8 is a top view showing the outer shape at the upper end 906;FIG. 10 is a top view on the lower end 905 of the curling element 901.As can be seen from the illustrations of FIGS. 8 and 10, the curlingelement 901 is flattened on both side surfaces.

[0062] It is e.g. also possible to provide a corresponding flattening inthe curling element 701.

[0063]FIG. 11 shows a further curling element 1101. Said curling element1101 has a cylindrical basic shape. A helical notch 1103 is provided onsaid surface. Said helical notch does not extend over the whole surfaceof the curling element 1101, but only over a part thereof.Advantageously, the notch 1103 is shaped at its ends such that it passescontinuously into the cylindrical lateral surface. As can further beseen, the lateral borders of the notch 1103 are also rounded off.

[0064]FIG. 12 shows a curling-element 1201 with a notch 1203. Incontrast to FIG. 11, the cylindrical basic form of the curling element1201 tapers towards the one end 1206 thereof.

[0065]FIG. 13 shows a curling element 1301. At each of its two ends saidcurling element 1301 has an extension 1308 which acts as a retainingelement. Said extension 1308 is flexible, remaining stable in the bentform. For example, said extension may consist of a copper wire which issurrounded by a plastic material. Such a copper wire is e.g. known fromelectrical installations. Cross-sectional areas of the copper wire inthe order of 1.5 mm² have turned out to be useful.

[0066] The copper wire may be fastened to the ends of the curlingelement 1301. It is also possible to pass a copper wire through thecurling element 1301. The curling element 1301 may e.g. be made from aplastic material.

[0067] In the illustration of FIG. 13, the curling element 1031 istherefore plotted as a dash-dotted line to express that, after havingbeen rolled up, all of the suitable curling elements can be retained bybending the copper wire accordingly. Particularly this concerns alsocurling elements other than those that have been explained in connectionwith the other figures. When the extension 1308 is bent after thecurling elements 1301 have been rolled into the hair strand, saidextension acts as a retaining element which prevents the curling element1301 from unrolling.

[0068] However, the curling elements can also be retained in the knownmanner by a rubber band which extends from the one end of the curlingelement to the other end and can be fastened to the two ends.

[0069]FIG. 14 shows a further design of the curling element according tothe illustration of FIG. 4. In contrast to the curling element of theillustration of FIG. 4, it can be seen in the illustration according toFIG. 14 that the tapers at the ends 1405 and 1406 are so pronounced thatthe radii at the ends 1405 and 1406 are smaller than the radius at thenotch 1403. The two resulting ellipsoids between the notch 1403 and theend 1406 and between the notch 1403 and the end 1405 may have differentsizes again. The enveloping lateral surface 1402 of the cylinder isagain tapered from the one end 1405 to the other end 1406. One of theellipsoids, or also both ellipsoids, may again be flattened here.

[0070] The illustrated curling elements may have any desired sizes.Curling elements have turned out to be advantageous that have an overalllength of several centimeters. This overall length may e.g. be between 5cm and 10 cm. The diameters may also be of a few centimeters and e.g.range from 1 cm to about 5 cm. The notches may have a depth of a fewcentimeters in comparison with the lateral surface of the cylinder, thedepth ranging e.g. from about 1 cm to 2 cm. The tapers at the ends maybe reduced by about up to 1 cm in comparison with the maximum diameters.It becomes also apparent from the embodiment of FIG. 14 that said tapersmay be more pronounced and may also be several centimeters. In theillustrated embodiment of FIG. 14, the diameter of the lower ellipsoidto the end 1405 was tapered by about 2 cm to 3 cm.

[0071]FIG. 15 shows a retaining element 1501 having a tubular member1502 and a member 1503 of an elastic material. Said member 1503 isconfigured such that in the relaxed state it fully disappears in thetubular member 1502. In this case it should still be possible to gripthe member for tensioning and fastening. To this end the member 1503 isfastened to the end of the tubular member 1502 that is the right one inthe drawing. The member 1503 is then dimensioned such that in therelaxed state it is not longer than the tubular member 1502. At the sametime, the member 1503 must still be extensible to a length that is abouttwice the length of the tubular member 1502. As a consequence, themember 1503 can be extended to such an extent out of the tubular member1502 that it can be placed externally around the tubular member 1502 andthe hair wound therearound and can be fastened again with its front end1504 to the side of the retaining element 1502 that is the right one inthe drawing, or to the corresponding end of the curling element.

[0072] As can be seen from FIG. 15, the tubular member 1502 has, atleast over part of its length, such an expansion of the inner diameterthat the tubular member 1502 offers enough accommodating space to themember 1503 in the relaxed state.

[0073]FIG. 15 further shows how the tubular member 1502 is embedded in acurling element 1505. The tubular member 1502 can e.g. be cast into thecurling element 1505 during production.

[0074] The member 1503 may e.g. be a rubber band. If necessary, saidband may additionally be wound in the manner of a spiral spring topromote the necessary shortening in the state where there is no tensileload.

[0075] Furthermore, a fastening element 1506 may be provided at the rearend of member 1503. Said fastening element 1506 may be designed suchthat said fastening element 1506 prevents said member 1503 from slippinginto the tubular member 1502. To this end the fastening element may havea larger diameter than the inner diameter of the tubular member in thecorresponding end portion of the tubular member 1502, which is shown inthe drawing at the right side.

[0076] Furthermore, the fastening element 1506 may be designed such thatthe front end 1504 of the member 1503 can be fastened to the fasteningelement 1506 at the rear end of member 1503 in the tensioned state.

[0077] It is also advantageous when the tubular member 1502 has afunnel-shaped enlargement at the end at which the member 1503 exits fromthe tubular member 1502 (shown at the left side in the drawing), theedges being furthermore rounded off in an advantageous manner. As aresult, when member 1503 is stretched or tensioned for fastening thecurling element 1505, kinks in the member 1503 are avoided that mightotherwise shorten the service life because the member 1503 would besubjected to a great load in the area of said kinks. The funnel-shapedenlargement can prevent the member 1503 from fully slipping into thecurling element 1505.

[0078]FIG. 16 shows various embodiments of the member 1503 consisting ofthe elastic material.

[0079] For example, said member may have a step-like enlargement asshown in connection with reference numeral 1602. The member designatedby reference numeral 1602 is provided at its rear end with a ring-shapedeyelet. With this ring-shaped eyelet it is possible to hold the memberwhen it is subjected to a tensile load. To this end the ring-shapedeyelet must be larger than the inner diameter of the opening in thecurling element. A slipping of the member through the element can thenbe prevented thereby. When the member is subjected to a tensile load,the rear thinner portion will expand to a greater extent than the frontportion. Advantageously, the portion which is tensioned over the hairand the curling element on the outside is thus stretched less stronglythan the portion positioned inside the curling element. Possible damageto the hair is thereby prevented in an advantageous manner. Furthermore,the member 1602 is provided at its front end with a hole 1604 with whichthe member can be fastened in the tensioned state to a hook of thecurling element.

[0080] In accordance with the illustration 1601, the member may alsohave an increased inner diameter over the whole length. In thisillustration of the member, it can further be seen that the fasteningelement 1506 has two hooks onto which the hole 1604 of the front membercan be hung in the tensioned state.

[0081] In accordance with the illustration of FIG. 17, the curlingelement 1701, regarding the through hole in the interior, may beprovided with reinforcing ribs 1702. If said reinforcing ribs 1702 aremade from a sufficiently rigid plastic material, the wall of thethrough-hole may also be made from said material. The retaining elementcan then be finished in advance and inserted during production of thecurling element.

[0082] In case the member of the elastic material comprises a fasteningmember according to reference numeral 1506 or 1508, a correspondingreceiving means 1704 may advantageously be formed in the through-hole atone end. The member consisting of the elastic material is retained bythe appropriate fastening members 1506, 1508 in the appropriatereceiving means 1704. The curling element may advantageously be providedwith a hook 1703 in which the hole 1604 can be hung in the front portionof the member consisting of the elastic material.

[0083] Advantageously, the material as such, or due to its shape, isconfigured in a way that the portion of the member that is located inthe curling element in the stretched stage is expanded more stronglythan the portion located outside the curling element. Advantageously,said member is designed, at least in the area located outside thecurling element in the stretched state, in such a manner that there areno sharp or rigid edges found there so as to avoid marks in the hair orother damage.

[0084] In the front portion the member consisting of the elasticmaterial is enlarged to prevent any slipping into the opening of thecurling element. With hole 1604 the member can then be mounted on a hook1703 provided on the curling element, or also on a fastening member1506.

[0085] In the area of the hole 1604, the member consisting of theelastic material may have any other desired geometrical shape as well.Such shapes may e.g. be a half moon, a triangle, a circle, an ellipsoid,a square, or the like. These shapes, however, should have suchdimensions that the member is prevented from slipping into the openingof the curling element.

[0086] As an alternative to the illustrated embodiments, it is alsopossible to design the retaining element such that it comprises twoelastic members which in the extended state are interconnected toprevent the curling element from unrolling.

[0087] It is evident that the above-described retaining elements canalso be used in curling elements having shapes differing from thosedescribed in claims 1 to 10.

[0088] This is also true for the reinforcing ribs as illustrated in FIG.17, which ribs may also be used in other curling elements in acorresponding way.

1. A curling element for styling hair, said curling element (101; 301;401; 1401) having at least essentially a cylindrical basic form (102;302; 402; 1402), characterized in that at least one ring-shaped notch(103, 104; 303; 403; 1402) is formed in the cylindrical basic form (102;302; 402; 1402), the bottom of the at least one ring-shaped notch (103,104; 303; 403; 1402) and the transitions of the ring-shaped notch (103,104; 303; 403; 1403) being rounded off in the cylindrical lateralsurface (102; 302; 402; 1402).
 2. The curling element according to claim1, characterized in that the cylindrical lateral surface (102; 302; 402,1402) has a taper at its ends (105, 106; 305, 306; 405, 406; 1405,1406).
 3. The curling element according to claim 1 or 2, characterizedin that the transitions of the at least one ring-shaped notch (103, 104;303; 403; 1403) into the cylindrical lateral surface (102; 302; 402,1402) are designed such that at least essentially an ellipsoid is formedbetween two ring-shaped notches (103, 104) and between a ring-shapednotch (103, 104; 303; 304; 1403) and an end of the curling element (101;301; 401; 1401).
 4. The curling element according to claim 3,characterized in that the at least essentially resulting ellipsoid (403,405) is flattened at two opposite sides (503).
 5. The curling elementaccording to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the radiusof the cylindrical lateral surface (402; 1402) is tapered from the oneend (405; 1405) of the curling element (401; 1401) to the other end(406; 1406).
 6. A curling element for styling hair, said curling element(701, 901) having at least essentially a cylindrical basic form,characterized in that the radius of the cylindrical lateral surface istapered towards one end (706, 906).
 7. The curling element according toclaim 6, characterized in that the radius of the cylindrical lateralsurface tapers from one end (905) to the other end (906).
 8. The curlingelement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the cylindricallateral surface is flattened at two opposite sides.
 9. A curling elementfor styling hair, the curling element (1101, 1201) having at leastessentially a cylindrical basic form, characterized in that thecylindrical basic form has provided therein a helical notch (1103, 1203)which is rounded in its bottom portion and in the transition to thecylindrical lateral surface.
 10. The curling element according to claim9, characterized in that the radius of the cylindrical lateral surfaceis tapered to one end (1206).
 11. A retaining element for a curlingelement, characterized in that the retaining element (1308) consists ofa bendable wire which is provided on the curling element (1301) orpasses through the curling element (1301), the wire projecting over theends of the curling element (1301) by at least a few centimeters. 12.The retaining element according to claim 11, characterized in that theretaining element (1308) consists of a copper wire.
 13. A retainingelement for a curling element, characterized in that the retainingelement (1501, 1601, 1602, 1603) comprises at least a member (1503) ofan elastic material, said member (1503) being adapted to be fastened tothe retaining element (1501, 1502) or the curling element (1505), orsaid member being held by the retaining element or the curling elementsuch that said member (1503) in its relaxed state is positioned at leastalmost entirely inside the curling element (1502, 1505), the member(1503) being extensible by a tensile load from the curling element(1502, 1505), the member (1503) in the extended state being adapted tobe fastened with its front end (1504) to the retaining element (1501,1502) or to the curling element (1505), or the member being connectableto another part of the retaining element (1501).
 14. The retainingelement according to claim 13, characterized in that the retainingelement (1501) comprises a tubular member (1502) with an at leastessentially cylindrical shape, the at least one member (1503) beingfastened or retained in the area of an end of the tubular member (1502),the tubular member (1502) being arranged in the curling element (1505)so that the tubular member (1502) extends at least essentially in thelongitudinal direction of the curling element (1505).